Today in History

Today is Monday, Feb. 8, the 39th day of 2016. There are 327 days left in the year. This is the Chinese New Year of the Monkey.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Feb. 8, 1966, during the Vietnam War, President Lyndon B. Johnson and South Vietnamese Premier Nguyen Cao Ky concluded their meetings in Hawaii by issuing the "Declaration of Honolulu," which asserted the resolve of their countries to defeat the Communists.

On this date:

In 1587, Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in England after she was implicated in a plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1862, the Civil War Battle of Roanoke Island, North Carolina, ended in victory for Union forces led by Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside.

In 1910, the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated.

In 1915, D.W. Griffith's groundbreaking as well as controversial silent movie epic about the Civil War, "The Birth of a Nation," premiered in Los Angeles under its original title, "The Clansman."

In 1922, President Warren G. Harding had a radio installed in the White House.

In 1942, during World War II, Japanese forces began invading Singapore, which fell a week later.

In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed her accession to the British throne following the death of her father, King George VI.

In 1965, Eastern Air Lines Flight 663, a DC-7, crashed shortly after takeoff from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport; all 84 people on board were killed. The Supremes' record "Stop! In the Name of Love!" was released by Motown.

In 1968, three college students were killed in a confrontation with highway patrolmen in Orangeburg, South Carolina, during a civil rights protest against a whites-only bowling alley.

In 1976, Martin Scorsese's graphic urban drama "Taxi Driver," starring Robert De Niro, was released by Columbia Pictures.

In 1989, 144 people were killed when an American-chartered Boeing 707 filled with Italian tourists slammed into a fog-covered mountain in the Azores.

In 1996, in a ceremony at the Library of Congress, President Bill Clinton signed legislation revamping the telecommunications industry, saying it would "bring the future to our doorstep."

Ten years ago: President George W. Bush condemned deadly rioting sparked by cartoons of the prophet Muhammad as he urged foreign leaders to halt the spreading violence. U2 captured five Grammy awards for their album "How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb," including album of the year.

Five years ago: Wael Ghonim, a 30-year-old Google executive who'd helped ignite Egypt's uprising, appeared before protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square for the first time after being released from detention; he told them, "We won't give up."

One year ago: A riot erupted outside a major soccer stadium in Egypt, with a stampede and fighting between police and fans killing at least 19 people. At the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Sam Smith won best new artist, record of the year, song of the year for "Stay with Me" and best pop vocal album; Beck won album of the year for "Morning Phase."

Today's Birthdays: Composer-conductor John Williams is 84. Newscaster Ted Koppel is 76. Actor Nick Nolte is 75. Comedian Robert Klein is 74. Actor-rock musician Creed Bratton is 73. Singer Ron Tyson is 68. Actress Brooke Adams is 67. Actress Mary Steenburgen is 63. Author John Grisham is 61. Retired NBA All-Star and College Basketball Hall of Famer Marques Johnson is 60. Actor Henry Czerny is 57. The president of the Philippines, Benigno Aquino III, is 56. Rock singer Vince Neil (Motley Crue) is 55. Rock singer-musician Sammy Llanas (The BoDeans) is 55. Former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa P. Jackson is 54. Movie producer Toby Emmerich is 53. Actress Mary McCormack is 47. Rock musician Keith Nelson (Buckcherry) is 47. Basketball Hall of Famer Alonzo Mourning is 46. Dance musician Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (Daft Punk) is 42. Actor Seth Green is 42. Actor Josh Morrow is 42. Rock musician Phoenix (Linkin Park) is 39. Actor Jim Parrack is 35. Folk singer-musician Joey Ryan (Milk Carton Kids) is 34. Actress-comedian Cecily Strong is 32. Rock musician Jeremy Davis is 31. Rock musician Max Grahn (Carolina Liar) is 28. Actor Ryan Pinkston is 28. Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton is 26. Actress Karle Warren is 24.

Thought for Today: "Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; an argument an exchange of ignorance." -- Robert Quillen, American journalist (1887-1948).